Silas: Nurses are all in – for safe staffing, public health care and access for all.
May 29, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Close to 1,200 union nurses working in our health care systems across Canada are gathering in Niagara Falls June 2-6 for the biennial convention of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU). Hosted by the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), the convention brings together nurses from each provincial nurses’ union in the CFNU’s membership.
“Ontario’s nurses and health care professionals are proud to welcome our colleagues from across the country as we unite and strengthen our movement. We’re at a pivotal moment across the country, facing the onslaught of privatization and unprecedented staffing shortages. We know the solutions, and this week we will say louder than ever that we’re all in, fighting to improve public health care for everyone,” says ONA provincial president Erin Ariss, RN.
The theme All In reflects nurses’ commitment to face the challenges in our health care system head on and to fight for a public health care system that leaves no one behind, from our seniors in long-term care homes to Indigenous people who must leave their communities to access health care.
“Nurses are coming to Niagara Falls with their elbows up, committed to defending public health care, pushing for safe staffing, better working conditions and improved access to care for all,” said Linda Silas, CFNU President. “We know, to truly achieve access to care for all, we must redouble our efforts towards reconciliation. Indigenous people deserve excellent care, and nurses have an important role in ensuring it.”
Formal activities are scheduled to get underway at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 3 at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre, 6815 Stanley Avenue, with two days devoted to educational sessions followed by two days of CFNU business.
Tuesday’s plenary session will feature an Indigenous health panel “Beyond Equity: Taking Action to Address Indigenous-Specific Racism in Nursing” with Dr. Alika Lafontaine, Dawn GooGoo, Kerri Nuku and Candi DeSousa. This will be followed by an apology to Indigenous Peoples by the CFNU on behalf of Canada’s nurses.
Over the two education days, convention delegates will have the opportunity to attend a range of workshops, including psychological and emotional wellness for nurses, the social determinants of health, nurse-patient ratios, understanding the migrant worker experience, and fostering diversity and equity in health care.
Wednesday’s plenary will focus on the use of artificial intelligence in different health care settings, with a panel titled, “AI Health: Today & Tomorrow”.
The business of the biennium commences at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday June 5, followed an hour later by the President’s Address and an open forum with nurse union leaders from across the country. Media are welcome to attend both the address and open forum.
Building on the apology to be issued earlier in the week, on Friday June 6, the CFNU will table a motion to start work immediately on a plan setting out tasks and goals to meaningfully contribute to reconciliation, while being accountable to Indigenous Peoples and to members.
Following union business on Friday, nurses are staging a demonstration outside of the convention centre highlighting the urgent need to defend public health care and ensure everyone in Canada has access to the care they need.
A full agenda is posted on CFNU’s website, nursesunions.ca.
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The CFNU is Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, representing 250,000 frontline unionized nurses and nursing students in every sector of health care – from home care and LTC to community and acute care – and advocating on key priorities to strengthen public health care across the country.
For more information, please contact Adella Khan, media@nursesunions.ca, 613‑807‑2942.